Folding table.



W. A. MoGARTY.-

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 20, 1912.

1,042,020, Patented 001122, 1912.

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W. A. MQOARIY. FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20, 1912.

1,042,020. Patented 001;. 22, 1912.

V N \b m Q 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 w; a I X m H I a4 l J /l! v Xi w K Q X a Q awuemtoz WAT/ a rTy UNITED STATES WILLIS A. MCCARTY, OF DONIPI-IAN, MISSOURI.

FOLDING TABLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIs A. MoCARrY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Doniphan, in the county of Ripley and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tables and more particularly to that class known as folding tables, the object of the invention being to provide a table of this character, which when not in use can be quickly and easily folded up to form a plurality of shelves adapted to be used for various purposes, and can be quickly unfolded to be used for a table.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table of this character which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time is simple in construction and operation.

1th the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1, is a perspective view showing my invention adapted for use as a table. Fig. 2, is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3, is a perspective view, the table being folded to form a plurality of shelves. Fig. 4, is a vertical sectional view of the table in its folded position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the central member having the longitudinal pieces 2 secured to each end thereof. Suitable legs 3 are secured to the lower side of the longitudinal pieces 2 and adapted to support the member 1. Hingedly secured to each end of the pieces 2 are the longitudinally extending side rails 4. Secured to the upper edge of the side rails 4, are the side bars 5, which are hingedly connected to the end bars 6 by means of the hinges 7 said end bars being secured to the top edge of the end rails 8. Secured to each end of the end rails 8 and arranged at each end of the table are the supporting legs 9. Secured to the inner side of the end rails 8 and having its upper face flush with Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 20,

Patented Oct. 22,1912.

1912. Serial No. 692,182.

the top of the end bars 6 are the end leaves 9 which are suitably supported by means of a brace member 10. Arranged upon each side of the central member 1 and having their ends pivotally secured, at one side thereof, to the side rails 4 are the leaves 11. Transversely arranged across the inner face of the leaves 11 are the strips 12, said strips being hingedly connected to one of the longitudinal edges of the leaves 11, as shown at 13, and having their outer ends hingedly secured to the inner edge of the stationary leaves 9. The central member 1 and the end leaves 9' are to remain stationary with respect to the pivotally connected leaves 11.

Pivotally secured at its intermediate portions to the central member 1, is a brace bar 14 which is adapted to be swung to a longi tudinal position and arranged over the strips 12 to hold the leaves 11 securely in place when the invention is adapted to be used as a table. Secured to the inner end of the brace members 10, are the hooks 15 which are adapted to engage with the headed pins 16 on the bar 14 at the ends thereof, to hold the bar securely in place when arranged over the strips 12.

In folding the table so as to convert the same into a plurality of shelves as shown in Fig. 3, the hooks 15 are disengaged from the bar 14, said bar being then swung to its inoperative position. The lower ends of the legs 9 are then pulled outwardly, the central member 1, is then raised upwardly, which action will tend to bring the legs 9 inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, the central legs 3 of the table being suspended from the member 1 at each end thereof. In order to allow the ends of the side rails 4 to swing free of the shoulders 17 formed on the member end of the legs 9 the outer ends of the rails 4 are beveled off as shown at 18. It will also be seen that each end of the locking bar 14 is beveled as shown at 19 so that the same will only swing in one direction. lVhen the device is folded and set up for use as shelves the hooks 15 will be engaged with the headed pins 20, which are secured to the outer ends of the brace members 10. It will be seen that the leaves of the table are cut away at their longitudinal edges, which when the leaves are unfolded and in use as a table, form a lap joint which provides a smooth and even surface on the top of the table and which serves to help support the leaves when in an unfolded position.

In Fig. 3, I have shown the table in its folded position wherein the same forms a plurality of shelves which can be used for various purposes, and in order to quickly unfold the same and convert the same into a table the hooks 15 are released from the head of the pins 20, the legs 9 are then moved outwardly away from each other to allow the legs 3, which carry the central member 1 to drop down and rest on the floor or other surface, the bar 14 is then swung and arranged transversely across the leaves 13, the hooks 15 being engaged with the headed pins 16 to hold. the bar in its operative position.

From the above description taken in connection with the drawings it will be readily seen that I have provided a simple, durable and inexpensive table, which can be used in any suitable place, and when not in use can be quickly and easily folded to occupy minimum space and which at the same time will provide a plurality of shelves which can be used for various purposes.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details of construction and in the proportions may he resorted to for successfully carrying the invention into practice without sacrificing any of the novel features or departing from the scope thereof.

What I claim is l. A convertible article of furniture, including side pieces, each of which embodies two end sections and an intermediate section hingedly connected to the end sections, a middle leaf secured to the intermediate sections of the side pieces, relatively fixed end pieces to which the end sections of the side pieces are hingedly connected, supporting legs secured to said end pieces and intermediate leaves pivotally connected to the end sections of the side pieces.

2. A convertible article of furniture, including side pieces, each of which embodies two end sections and an intermediate section hingedly connected to the end sections, a middle leaf secured to the intermediate sec tions of the side pieces, relatively fixed end pieces to which the end sections of the side pieces are hingedly connected, supporting legs secured to said end pieces, intermediate leaves pivotally connected to the end sections of the side pieces, and other intermediate leaves fixedly connected to the end pieces.

3. A. convertible article of furniture, including side pieces, each of which embodies two end sections and an intermediate section hingedly connected to the end sections, a middle leaf secured to the intermediate sections of the side pieces, relatively fixed end pieces to which the end sections of the side pieces are hingedly connected, supporting legs secured to said end pieces, intermediate leaves pivotally connected to the end sections of the side pieces, and other intermediate leaves fixedly connected to the end pieces, securing strips arranged transversely across the under side of the pivoted leaves and hingedly secured to one of the longitudinal edges thereof, a locking bar pivotally secured to the middle leaf and adapted to be disposed over said strips, to hold the pivoted leaves in place, and means for holding saidbar in its operative position.

4. A convertible article of furniture, including side pieces each of which embodies two end sections and an intermediate section hingedly connected to the end sections, a middle leaf secured to the intermediate sections of the side pieces, relatively fixed end pieces to which the end sections of the side pieces are hingedly connected, supporting legs secured to said end pieces, and intermediate leaves pivotally connected to the end sections of the side pieces, other intermediate leaves fixedly connected to the end pieces, brace members secured to the under side of the fixed intermediate leaves to support the same, a locking bar pivotally secured to the middle leaf and adapted to be disposed over the pivoted leaves to hold the same securely in place, hooks secured to the inner ends of the brace members, headed pins carried by the ends of the looking bar and adapted to be engaged by the hooks to hold the bar in its operative position, said intermediate leaves being adapted to be arranged in superimposed relation and disposed upon the opposite sides of the central member, headed pins secured to the outer ends of the brace members, and the hooks secured to the inner ends of the brace members being adapted to be disposed in opposite directions and engage the headed pins carried by the outer ends of the brace members to hold said leaves in position when arranged in superimposed relation.

5. A convertible article of furniture, ineluding side pieces, each of which embodies two end sections and an intermediate section hingedly connected to the end sections, a central leaf secured to the intermediate sections of the side pieces, relatively fixed end pieces to which the end sections of the side pieces are hingedly connected, supporting legs secured to said end pieces, intermediate leaves pivotally connected to the end sections of the side pieces, other intermediate leaves fixedly connected to the end leaves, brace members secured to the under side of the fixed leaves, securing strips arranged transversely across the pivoted leaves and hingedly secured to one of their longitudinal edges, a locking bar pivotally secured to the central member and adapted to be disposed over said strips to In testimony whereof I hereunto affiX my hold the pivoted Ileaves securely:E in place, signature in the presence of two Witnesses. hooks secured to t1e inner ends 0 the brace members, and headed pins carried by the WILLIS MOOARIY' ends of the locking bar and adapted to be Witnesses:

engaged by said hooks to hold the bar in its J NO. W. YOUNG,

operative position. J. R. OASTEEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

